Providing additional water for mining operations while also aiding a nearby community with wastewater treatment

Cerro Verde Enlozada Wastewater Treatment Plant

Despite recycling up to 90 percent of their processed water, the owners of the Cerro Verde copper mine would need additional water to expand their operations. They also needed a solution that would treat the sanitary wastewater flow generated by the City of Arequipa, providing a benefit to the local area to maintain their social license to operate. The mine owners contracted our team to design and manage the construction of new collection networks and a new wastewater treatment plant.

We designed the Enlozada Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) as a secondary treatment facility, incorporating multiple process components to support effective wastewater treatment. The plant includes influent pumping, headworks with odor control, primary clarifiers, trickling filters, solids contact basins, secondary clarifiers, and disinfection using chlorine gas. We also integrated solids handling systems into the design, consisting of primary sludge pumps, waste secondary pumps, return activated sludge pumps, gravity belt thickeners, sludge holding tanks, and dewatering belt presses.

Beyond supporting mine operations, the Enlozada WWTP is designed to remain a community resource long after mining ends. Additionally, the project included the development of a separate drinking water plant upstream to provide safe, potable water for Arequipa residents.